Tom Brady's three-year, $27 million contract extension has been painted by some as a premier player dealing charitably with his employer. From another angle, Brady is being furnished with $60 million guaranteed by the New England Patriots to play -- or not play -- until he's 40.

Rapoport: Pats ready to spend?

Ian Rapoport says Tom
Brady's new contract extension frees up tons of cash for the
Patriots. How will they use it?
More ...

The new deal opens up roughly $15 million in cap space over the next two years, and Brady responded Wednesday by saying that restocking the roster -- and not his bank account -- was the motivation behind the extension.

"I don't want to talk about this on the radio or anywhere else for that matter," Brady wrote in an email to WEEI-FM. "Athletes are always talking about money at a time when everyone else is struggling so badly to make it. We all make way more than our fair share. And I just think it reflects poorly on myself and my teammates. I really do just want to win, and that has and will continue to be the reason that motivates me and is the biggest factor in my decision-making process."

That would come across as manufactured from some athletes, but Brady's determination to put the Patriots in a competitive position shouldn't be repositioned as something other than what it is. Brady played below market value for much of his career without saying a word. He's fine financially -- has been for ages -- but he's telling us that his legacy matters more now. From what we know of Brady, that isn't so hard to believe.